Our biological age is a better indicator of health than our years here on earth, according to recent research findings in the science of aging (gerontology).  Even though there is no universal method for testing biological age, it can be determined through testing in areas such as muscle strength and endurance, flexibility, body composition, aerobic fitness, lung function, blood testing including blood pressure.

 
Let us look at the Father of Fitness, and my hero, Jack LaLanne for example.  At age 92, he works out two hours every day, one-one half hours in the weight room, and 30 minutes in the pool. He has maintained this fit lifestyle since he was 15.  Because he continues to maintain his health and fitness, his biological age tests would rank him around 50 years old.  That is amazing and it has important implications for those of us Baby Boomers who want to live a healthy fit life forever.

Realistically, most of us have not lived like Jack LaLanne. Not too many of us could swim the Golden Gate Channel while towing a 2,500-pound cabin cruiser, or at age 60, swim from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf handcuffed, and shackled while towing a 1,000-pound boat, or even set a world record of 1,033 push ups in 23 minutes. http://www.answers.com/topic/jack-la-lanne

 
However, this new research is great news for those who have maintained a healthy lifestyle for many years.  It is also, not too late to begin creating new healthy and fit habits.  Even if you have been sedentary, you can start to improve your biological age today.

What does this mean for you and me? Based of these research findings, if we take good care of our bodies we can slow down the aging process. This is further evidence that what we do to care or not for our bodies has lasting effects.  We cannot stop the aging process, but we can slow it down.

To take your wellness to the next level, answer the following questions:
 

1. What three things you will do, or continue to do now?
2. What will it take you to do this?
3. What goal will you accomplishing?
4. When will you begin?

 Cheers to slowing down the aging process!
Wellness & Abundant Blessings to you,
Patricia

“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.”

                        –Anonymous
Hi  everyone!
I just received five new CDs to use in my fitness classes.  While I listened and evaluated each one, I began to think about how important music has been in my life. 

My father was a part time musician and played in a band.  He was very gifted and played the banjo, guitar, and mandolin, and he could figure out how to play other instruments too.  I have many fond memories as a little girl, dancing with my dad and mom on the dance floor to big band music.  “In The Mood” was their favorite song.  When I hear it, I think of them with love, and I miss them.
 
My father loved all kinds of music.  The three songs I remember singing with him the most were, “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, “My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean”, and “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”.  We sang with great gusto, and I realize now what a wonderful gift my father gave me in his love of music.

Listening to music can connect me instantly with meaningful experiences in my past. It can renew my hope in the future, and provide a healing calmness when I am stressed.  I can use music to celebrate, motivate, and to relax. 

I listen to music and my creative juices start to flow, giving me new ideas for my classes.  Music can take me to far off lands, made me feel wonderful, sad, lonely, happy, and glorious, all in one sitting!  It is amazing how music can affect us.

Music is being used in hospitals, clinics, and physician’s offices too. It is used as a therapy for a variety of medical conditions such as mental illness, trauma, debilitating physical conditions, among others.  According to scientists, the immune system improves with certain types of music treatment.

 When interviewed by Dr. Daniel Redwood, musical artist, Steve Halpern says he views his music as a “vehicle for self-empowerment and spiritual well-being”. Because our hearts “involuntarily synchronize it’s beat to the rhythm supplied by external stimuli, he says it is good to create a balanced music diet”.

Try creating a play list of music you find soothing, inspiring, and energizing.  Notice your moods as you play them.  Allow yourself to be fully in the your experience.  What do you feel?

Questions to ponder:
What are your experiences with music?
How can you use music to enrich your life?
Blessings,
Patricia

Your comments & feedback are always welcome and encouraged. For an appointment call 206-459-2898 or e-mail me at: patricia@integritylifecoach.com Home page http://www.integritylifecoach.com Copyright© 2007 Patricia Eslava Vessey…All Rights Reserved
 

What is a Legacy?  According to the Merriam Webster definition, it is a gift by will especially of money or other personal property or something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.

I watched two very good shows last week, and the similarities between them were interesting.  They were both heartbreaking stories that have stayed with me for a while. Even though these stories were very sad, watching them made me start thinking about legacies, and how we can influence today, what people say and think of us tomorrow.